The National Police Commissioner, General Bheki Cele, today praised members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and the Northern Cape for the speedy apprehension of escapees in their respective provinces. Within days after the suspects escaped from custody, they were rearrested.
On Wednesday, 16 March 2011 at about 20h30 two policemen were overpowered by eight awaiting trial prisoners in the Esikhawini holding cell. The prisoners took cash as well as firearms before fleeing. The escaped prisoners were held for various cases including murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, rape and possession of property suspected to be stolen.
A task team in KZN made a breakthrough when they rearrested four and shot and killed one of the escapees. The arrests were made over the weekend. Sboniso Mnguni (30) was rearrested on Friday, 18 March 2011 in the Esikhawini area. Nduduzo Mnguni (29), Sboniso Mdletshe (28) and Sthembiso Mdletshe (25) were arrested on Saturday, 19 March 2011 at Cato Manor and the policeman’s firearm taken during the escape was recovered. The fifth prisoner, Sibonelo Mpanza (29) was shot and killed in the Eshowe area on Monday, 21 March 2011. A policeman’s firearm was also recovered from him.
The re-arrested prisoners appeared in the Esikhawini Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 22 March 2011 for escaping and robbery. The case was remanded until 19 April 2011 for further investigation. Three escapees, Bheki Mazibuko (19), Boy Hlongwane (31) and Siboniso Zulu (21) are still on the run and efforts to track them down have been enhanced. The police appeal to anyone who may be aware of their whereabouts not to confront them because such action may be life threatening. Information must be communicated to a local police station, to Crime Stop on 08600 10111, by sms anonymously to 32211 or directly to Captain Thokozani Mncwango from Esikhawini police station on cell no 082 557 2201.
In the meantime, on Friday, 18 March 2011 six awaiting trial prisoners escaped from the Calvinia Correctional Services. A task team was also immediately established and without any rest the team tracked down and arrested the escapees. Kerneels Beukes (40) was arrested on Saturday on a farm in the Calvinia Region (Joosteville). He was awaiting trial for Assault GBH.
Yesterday another two, Jaco Koopman aka Las (26) and Heinrich Majiedt aka Don (23) were initially arrested in a field in Calvinia. They were awaiting trial for rape and theft respectively. Shortly before midnight last night another three were arrested in Mandela Street in Calvinia. They were Jan Swartz (aka Boela & Skoeter) (23), Hendrik Swartz (23) and Gerrit Dinni (aka Gerrit Staff & Blessie ) (35). Jan and Hendrik were awaiting trial for Stock theft and Gerrit for rape.
All six suspects were armed with knives at the time they were rearrested. Fortunately they were arrested without incident. All of these escapees will now face an additional charge of Escaping from Lawful Custody but the suspects in KZN will also face an additional charge of robbery.
“It is clear that the majority of these escapees have committed very serious crimes and the industrious efforts by our task teams are indeed commendable”, said General Bheki Cele.
Enquiries
Brigadier Sally de Beer
Cell: 082 779 8658
Colonel Vishnu Naidoo
Tel: 012 400 6579 / 6629 / 6576
Fax: 012 400 7018
Cell: 082 567 4153
E-mail: mediacentre@saps.org.za
Source: South African Police Services
